Touch Football Australia is lucky to have countless volunteers who have made significant contributions to the Touch Football landscape over the past 12 months and beyond.
To celebrate and recognise these contributions for the second year running Touch Football Australia will award the Volunteer of the Year Award to one of our highly valued volunteers.
“The opportunity to recognise and say thank you to our volunteers is one that we as a sport do not take for granted”, CEO Colm Maguire speaking on the importance of volunteers in our sport.
“We are excited to again be able to recognise many of these fantastic individuals, who are all deserving of being awarded this prestigious honour, for the great work they have done in their local community and the sport at large”.
Each State and Territory were asked to nominate one individual to be considered for the TFA Volunteer of the Year for 2016, as well as two nominees from a National Level.
Nominations were to be considerate of their exceptional service to the sport and have made a notable and measurable contribution and difference in their respective communities.
The nominees all will have demonstrated the Touch Football Australia values of:
- Leadership
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Diversity
- Excellence
The Touch Football Australia Board of Management has reviewed all nominations and voted using a 3, 2, 1 system to determine the 2016 Touch Football Australia Volunteer of the Year.
“Our Board was absolutely overwhelmed by the calibre of nominees from across the country,” Maguire, continues, “And has found it particularly difficult to determine this year’s recipient from an extremely deserving group”.
“While it’s always difficult to choose a winner, the flipside is, what a great position to be in – so many wonderfully talented and dedicated people in our sport. The nominees are a shining example of the valuable volunteers in our sport. We wouldn’t exist or be anywhere near as successful without them. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport – the TFA board, and this award, recognises in no small way, the generosity and commitment of all of these people- not just the state representatives or winners” TFA Chair Anita Hagarty adds.
Over the next four days, each nominee for the Touch Football Australia Volunteer of the Year will feature on Touch Football Australia’s website and social media channels, with the winner to be publically announced at 3pm on Friday 30th September 2016.
All nominees will also receive a plaque of recognition and a small gift to say thank you for the tremendous work they have done for the sport of Touch Football.
NSW Selection-Ben Cooper Young Touch Association
Ben is an outstanding individual and one whose values and integrity bring leadership to a small touch footballing community and stamp him as an outstanding candidate for the Touch Football Volunteer of the Year.
Ben’s passion and drive has seen him as the driving force in the rebuilding of Young TA. Through his leadership and professionalism he has helped build and deliver a better product in the community and gas done this with a view to fostering development of the game in all aspects. In the last few years, helping to build and develop the game in the Young Area. Ben’s excellence has been awash over several integral positions on the Young Committee. He has been President, Treasurer and is currently leading the charge through his position of secretary.
During the period of Ben’s involvement he has overseen the growth of the competition and acceptance of the competition in the local community. Under his tenure the Young TA competition has grown tenfold. He aided in introducing the highly successful ladies only “Champagne and Crackers” competition which secured great community interest and buy in.
His background in teaching has also seen him play a large role in bringing juniors into the sport of Touch Football. He has ensured that Young High School supports several NSWTA school events across the State and further develops their all-round skills by undertaking Referee Accreditation Courses with the student body.
This area of Referee Development isn’t just limited to the student body and through these efforts many students and adults have helped Young TA build their Referee numbers and develop their skills in the game to help develop Young TA.
Ben has also engaged with NSWTA to run development days and clinics to update training sessions at schools right across the Young area. Through this practice Ben has assisted developing the game across the whole community.
It was through Ben’s drive that saw Young TA enter in their first Junior State Cup in 2014 where he was the jack of all trades. Coach, Manager, Tour Leader and Travel Agent. He is now looking at getting Young to participate at their first Senior State Cup in 2016.
With the amount of time Ben devotes to Young TA we are at a loss to understand how he finds to for his other roles – High School Teacher and Deputy Lord Mayor of Young. It goes without saying that the qualities that Ben displays in all aspects of his like easily transcend into why the Young community he is such a well-respected individual.
His commitment to our sport is shown in the great pride, professionalism and integrity that he delivers our product with. It is a benchmark for others to emulate. He would be not only a worthy winner, but already is a worthy ambassador for our game.
